The Maple Guild Maple Syrup, Horseshoe Brand Barbecue Sauce | The Nibble Webzine Of Food Adventures

FATHER’S DAY GIFTS: Premium Maple Syrup & BBQ Sauce

June 8, 2018 at 7:55 am · Filed under Condiments, Giftable, Honey-Sugar-Syrup, Organic

Some foodists* like a bottle of wine as a gift. But they might like a bottle of fine olive oil even more. Or a bottle of the best maple syrup or barbecue sauce.

We have favorites for the latter two, just in time for Father’s Day gifting.

MAPLE GUILD BOURBON BARREL MATURED MAPLE SYRUP

The Maple Guild of Vermont has created a new way to make maple syrup.

The key difference is what happens to the sap when it leaves the tree.

Typically, to make maple syrup the sap is boiled close to the flame, at high heat. The result is a burnt caramel flavor.

The Maple Guild uses a unique Steam-crafting™ process that converts the sap to syrup at a lower temperature, and does so more quickly. The company says that this preserves more of the maple flavor. We see it as a more elegant maple flavor.

The syrup is then aged in charred oak Kentucky bourbon barrels, which gives it a subtle note of walnuts (there are no nuts involved) and a hint of smoke.

By elegant, we mean not sugary-sweet, but a light touch of sweetness that is welcome in cocktails or on pancakes. It’s maple syrup for picky palates.

The syrup is sustainably produced, certified organic and non-GMO. In terms of traceability: They can even tell you what tree your syrup came from.

There are four flavors of this premium maple delight: original and three infused syrups.

Organic Bourbon Barrel Aged Syrup

Organic Cinnamon Stick Infused Maple Syrup

Organic Salted Caramel Syrup

Organic Vanilla Infused Syrup

A 12.7 fl.oz. bottle is $15.99, a 750 mL bottle is $26.99.

The company makes other maple-based products: maple cream, infused tree water, maple-sweetened iced tea, maple water and maple vinegar.

Get yours at MapleGuild.com.

HORSESHOE BRAND BARBECUE SAUCE

[1] Two of the four varieties of The Maple Guild’s syrups: Original and Vanilla Infused (photo courtesy The Maple Guild).

Horseshoe Brand Barbecue Sauce
[2] Barbecue sauce with a mission to be the best (photo courtesy Horseshoe Brand).

Based in the Hudson Valley of New York, a bucolic food mecca, Horseshoe Brand is a young company that makes exceptional hot sauces in different flavors (our review).

This year, they introduced barbecue sauce in two varieties: Original and Hot.

We appreciate the quality of the ingredients, and the balance of flavors. This is not a typical sweet barbecue sauce, but one of the more rare recipes, with layers of flavor. You can taste how they meld: brown sugar, cayenne, garlic, molasses, onion, tomato, ginger and other spices.

The Hot version substitutes chipotle, ghost pepper and smoked habanero for the cayenne; and adds pineapple.

All of the brand’s heat comes from fresh chile mash: no extracts. You can taste the difference.

The two sauces are real treats for fans of barbecue sauce, and for those who like something more tangy on their burgers, eggs and fries.

A 16-ounce bottle is $6.99. Head to HorshoeBrand.com.

________________

*Factions in the fine food fold distinguish between “foodie” and “foodist.” Some think that “foodie” refers to people who view new foods and restaurants as a checklist, to say “I was there.” Foodists, on the other hand, are those who deepen their knowledge of foods and cuisine through reading, seminars, etc.; and have the ability to discuss the nuances with like-minded people.

Please follow and like us: